The U.S. Navy has officially decommissioned the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
During Friday's ceremony at a Newport News shipyard, the USS Enterprise was described as a "legendary" vessel that helped shape history. It served more than 50 years, playing a role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Affectionately called the "Big E," the ship retired from service in 2012.......To Read More....
My Take - I never served on the Enterprise, but I was assigned TAD to the USS Chicago during the Veitnam War. The Chi-town was serving in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of N. Vietnam when the Pueblo was captured in January of 1968, forty nine years ago.
We were just ending a line period and instead of going to Sasebo, Japan for R&R, we were sent to Korea. Before proceeding to outside of Wonson Harbor, North Korea (many miles outside I might add) we rendezvoused with the task force and the Enterprise around the 38th parallel, if I remember this correctly. She was holding flight ops when we got there and I think it was A6's taking off from her deck - those are big planes - and it amazed me they didn't drop into the briny. You couldn't help being impressed - she looked like a Man-of-War.
At any rate - she was special. Imagine - 50 years! Hard to believe it's gone by that fast.
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